Danko: PM Fico Should Treat Partners More Politely and Address Actual Problems

Bratislava, 23 January (TASR) - Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) should treat his coalition partners more politely and deal with people's actual problems instead of virtual enemies, stated leader of the junior coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) and House Vice-chair Andrej Danko in a video on social media on Friday, responding to Fico's comments on Thursday (22 January). Danko also questioned the government's plan to sign a contract with the US company Westinghouse for constructing a new nuclear power unit, asking "whether it's really a good idea to sign a contract with the Americans, as their treatment of Europe and the European Union is such that they're nearly going to take part of Greenland's territory". The SNS leader is also pondering whether the prime minister, during his meeting with US President Donald Trump, inquired about Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro or about amending the Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) between Slovakia and the USA, which the coalition parties criticised in the past but have failed to amend since winning the election. Danko also said that he was offended at being compared to the junior coalition Voice-SD party, as SNS members haven't betrayed the prime minister. He urged Fico to devote himself to people's real problems, such as targeted energy assistance. "You could have discussed that on the plane with [Economy] Minister [Denisa] Sakova. These are the problems that Slovakia is facing, not Greenland, not virtual enemies," said Danko. He again called for Slovakia's European Commissioner Maros Sefcovic to be replaced, while referring to how Fico stood behind his adviser and former foreign minister (2012-20) Miro Lajcak over the latter's communications with late US financier Jeffrey Epstein. "So, I'm asking you: why are you standing up for Maros Sefcovic, the father of the Green Deal?" asked Danko. He also suggested that Fico should arrange for certain representatives of the former government to be held accountable. "You're the prime minister," stressed Danko. On Thursday (22 January), Fico posted a video on a social network, hinting that the government might not have to prepare another traditional consolidation package in 2026. "If we're going to hell, let it be on a big white horse. So, dear friends, we've entered a pre-election year, and here's what I'm commanding my colleagues and friends in Smer-SD to do: Saddle up that white horse! I'm curious whether our coalition partners from Voice-SD and SNS will join us or continue to ride on a slow donkey safely, way down into opposition, and perhaps oblivion," stated Fico in his video. jrg/df